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GETTING A JOB On April 8, 2003 the Cape Girardeau hosted a workshop for teens on How to Land a Summer Job. In case you couldn't make it, here is some of what we learned.
Ok, so maybe it doesn't pay much. In fact, it doesn't pay anything, but volunteering is an invaluable step in your professional life. Most employers are not exactly tripping over themselves to hire you if you have no experience, but they will often let you help them out if you are not on the payroll. That provides them with help that they desperately need and you with experience that will look great on college applications and resumes. Not only that, many employers will look to their volunteers first when they need to fill a position. What an advantage! Volunteer experience can also help you figure out what you are good at and what you may want to be when you have finished school. So where do you go to volunteer? Ask around.
It can be tough to find employment in your teen years. There are laws restricting where you can work and what you can do. Your best bet is to apply at a business who already has teenage employees. These places most commonly include: fast food (Wendys, McDonalds), retail (Target, Wal-Mart), restaurants (Outback, Red Lobster), clothing shops (Fashion Bug), parks and recreation, offices (filing), veterinarians, newspaper offices, daycares, movie theaters, and the skating rinks. Here are some ways to land that perfect summer or after-school job.
When at all possible, apply for the job in person. Make sure you look and act professional when requesting an application. Impressions are made the moment you request a job. Be honest when filling out an application, don't exaggerate! If your family traveled to Egypt for a week over the summer and you gave a coin to a beggar, don't claim that you spent the summer in Egypt helping the poor. Supervisors have a way of finding out the truth. Be sure to know all phone numbers and addresses that you may need, bring a cheat sheet if necessary. Things you may need to know will include: phone and address of former places of employment (including volunteer sites), phone and address of schools you have attended (high school and up), past supervisor's full names and titles, and the phone and address of at least three references. References can be anyone who can vouch for your character. Good references may include: teachers, counselors, principals, former employers, family friends, and ministers. Do not list immediate family. Always ask permission before listing anyone as a reference. This gives them time to think up something nice to say about you. Print legibly on all applications and be sure to double check for mistakes. Resumes are important when applying for jobs that require specific skills. Some places of employment want to know your skills before they even consider you. Always have a resume and cover letter ready when requesting applications, and be sure to have plenty of copies available. Even if they don't request a resume, it may be beneficial to offer one.
Dress the part. Employers will see you before they hear you. Cleanliness is very important. Make sure your clothes are not stained, wrinkled, or worn out. Females should be careful about short skirts and halter tops. Subtle colors work best (brown, black, navy blue). Try to avoid jeans, tennis shoes, and t-shirts if possible. A good rule of thumb is to dress the way your would if you were working there (if the job requires uniforms, just try to look presentable). Subtle accessories, such as jewelry, is fine, but don't wear anything distracting or controversial. Multiple or facial piercings and tattoos should be covered or downplayed. Make sure your hygiene is good, but go easy on the perfume/cologne. Hair should be clean and styled in a simple manner. If you plan to dye your hair purple, this may not be the right time. Greet the interviewer with a smile and a handshake. Introduce yourself, giving your full name. While continuing through the interview, good eye contact and voice control is very important. This shows the interviewer that you are interested. Be excited about the interview, but don't be manic. Don't ever imply that you are desperate for this job, even if you are. Be prepared for the questions. Here are some examples: Sample interview questions
Difficult Questions (You will want to be extra prepared for these doozies)
When presented with a difficult question, be very honest, but try to turn it around so that is reflects well on you. For example: Interviewer: Well Jim, tell me about a time when you broke the rules. Notice how Jim admitted to his actions (a clear example of honesty), yet still made himself out to be a hero. Practice giving your answers before the interview to help with nervousness. Take a few seconds to think the question over before answering. If you don't understand the question, ask the interviewer to clarify. Here is a true-life example of an interviewee who tried to wing a question she didn't completely understand: Interviewer: Working as a teacher's assistant you may witness many things. How would you conduct yourself if you saw a teacher disciplining a student in a way that you thought was unusual? Sally Whoops: Well, I would immediately bring it to the attention of the principal, and if necessary, the school board! Child abuse is never acceptable! Interviewer: (clears his throat) Actually, I was not describing child abuse. I was questioning your confidentiality. Maybe Sally should have asked "What do you mean by unusual?" or "By disciplined do you mean physically?" before she jumped in with that wrong answer. Do not give simple yes or no answers. Find a way to elaborate. Give clear, positive answers, but do not ramble. The interviewer is really not interested in you life story. There are some questions that interviewers are not allowed to ask you. Here are some examples of illegal questions that you do not have to answer:
Sometimes an interviewer will flub and ask one of these questions anyway. The best way to handle this situation is to politely decline to answer (if you still want the job, pointing your finger and calling in your lawyer is not a good idea). You might ask the interviewer why he/she needed to know. It may just be a roundabout way of getting an answer. Interviewer: Tell me Jim, do you attend church regularly? Towards the end of the interview, the interviewer will most likely ask if you have any questions. It is very important that you ask questions. This indicates your interest in the business and the job. For a lot of people, this can be difficult. You are nervous, you can't exactly think straight, and the interviewer seemed to have already covered everything. Here is a list of questions you can ask in any interview:
You have a right to know about salary, but try not to make this your primary focus. Ask how much and how often you will be paid, but be sure to mix it up with other non-monetary questions. Also, don't bring a schedule and start demanding days off. Let them know if there are certain days that you absolutely cannot work, but save most scheduling issues (such as a Friday night date with your honey) for after you are hired. Always follow up the interview with a thank you card or letter. If you have not heard from the employer in two weeks, you may contact them. It is a good idea at the end of the interview to say: "Please let me know of your decision. If I haven't heard from you in two weeks, may I contact you?" If after two weeks they have not come to a decision you may continue to call, but do not become a pest. If they are still deciding on you, you will want to continue to maintain you image as a good, professional potential employee. Getting a job is not as scary or difficult as it may seem. Just remember, there are lots of employers in the sea. If the first, second, or even fifth attempt doesn't land you a job, just brush up on your skills and keep trying. What employers are really looking for:
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